Community’s Love of Colorado Restaurant/Bar and $1.5 Million May Save It

Colorado has thousands of restaurants and hundreds of music venues, but there's no place that matches up to the Jamestown Mercantile Cafe.

What's Happening with the Jamestown Mercantile Cafe?

The current owner of the building that houses the Jamestown Mercantile Cafe (50 miles south of Fort Collins) wants to sell the two-story building and the building adjacent to it. That owner, however, is giving the Jamestown community the chance to buy it for the town. The community launched the "Save the Mer" crowdfunding campaign in about May of 2026.

Why is the Jamestown Mercantile So Legendary in Colorado?

The classic western-style building that houses "The Merc" was built in 1892 and was added to National Register of Historic Places in 1989. The building is more than historic, it's a big part of the Jamestown community. Many may remember the fires of 2013; Jamestown was hit very hard. Jamestown Mercantile Cafe became the FEMA meeting place during the disaster.

Who's Behind the "Save the Merc" Campaign?

The best way to get something like buying a building to use a community gathering spot, is to set up a 501(c)(3) and start raising some money. That is what they did and they gave it a great name: "The Jamestown Home for Wayward Artists, Pirates, and the Somewhat Feral."

From the Campaign:

The Merc isn’t just a restaurant, it’s where people gather in storms and natural disasters, celebrate milestones, meet neighbors, hear music, and feel welcome. Places like this are rare, and once they’re gone, they’re gone.

 

Why Don't They Just Apply for a Regular Bank Loan to Buy 'The Merc?'

While going to a bank sounds like a prudent way for the community to obtain the property, a loan would mean having to pass inspections, which it would never do. The campaign has until May of 2027 to raise and deliver at least $1 million (down payment) to the current owner, who has been very kind and caring about the whole endeavor.